Pelicans Cruise Past Depleted Kings in Battle of NBA Lottery Teams

New Orleans takes advantage of Sacramento's long injury list to secure comfortable victory.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 5:27pm

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A fragmented, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movement and energy of a fast-break basketball play, with the players' forms broken down into angular, overlapping shapes and the ball and court lines creating a sense of motion and chaos.An abstract, cubist interpretation of the Pelicans' transition offense overwhelming the depleted Kings' defense.New Orleans Today

The New Orleans Pelicans defeated the Sacramento Kings 122-108 in a matchup of two teams already eliminated from playoff contention. The Pelicans, led by Zion Williamson's 21 points, took advantage of the Kings' extensive injury list to cruise to victory. Sacramento was missing several key players, including Domantas Sabonis, Zach LaVine, and Russell Westbrook, allowing the Pelicans to dominate the interior and score in transition.

Why it matters

This game had little impact on the playoff race, as both teams are firmly out of contention. However, it provided an opportunity for the Pelicans' young core of Zion Williamson, Derik Queen, and Jeremiah Fears to gain valuable experience, while the Kings continued to evaluate their roster for the future, with second-round pick Maxime Raynaud emerging as a potential building block.

The details

The Pelicans' paint-centric offense and transition game proved too much for the depleted Kings, who struggled to protect the rim and get back in transition. New Orleans outscored Sacramento 58-40 in the paint and 24-12 on the fast break. Zion Williamson had another efficient performance, shooting 62.5% from the field, while Derik Queen and Jeremiah Fears combined for 32 points. For the Kings, Maxime Raynaud continued his strong rookie campaign, posting 17 points and 8 rebounds, but the team's lack of depth was too much to overcome.

  • The Pelicans and Kings tipped off at 10:10 p.m. ET on Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • The Pelicans have been 10-11 since the All-Star break, while the Kings have won 8 games in that span.

The players

Zion Williamson

The star forward for the New Orleans Pelicans, who has appeared in 50 of the team's last 51 games, averaging 21.0 points per game on 62.5% shooting.

Maxime Raynaud

The second-round draft pick of the Sacramento Kings, who just won Western Conference Rookie of the Month after averaging 17.9 points and 8.5 rebounds per game in March.

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What they’re saying

“We knew coming in that we had a big advantage in the paint and in transition, and our guys did a great job of exploiting that.”

— Willie Green, Head Coach, New Orleans Pelicans

“Maxime has been a bright spot for us this season, and we're excited to see how he continues to develop. He's shown he can be a valuable piece of our future.”

— Mike Brown, Head Coach, Sacramento Kings

What’s next

The Pelicans will look to build on this win as they continue their rebuild, while the Kings will focus on evaluating their roster and positioning themselves for a high draft pick in the upcoming NBA Draft.

The takeaway

This game highlighted the contrasting trajectories of the two franchises, with the Pelicans' young core gaining valuable experience and the Kings continuing to search for long-term solutions after a disappointing season. The result underscored the importance of roster depth and health, as the Kings' extensive injury list proved too much to overcome against a talented Pelicans team.